Carlsbad's top official placed on leave

Carlsbad announced Monday that City Manager John Coates has been placed on paid leave because of an undisclosed “personnel matter.”

The city’s top administrator, Coates receives an annual salary of $220,500 plus additional compensation. The City Council promoted Coates, who has worked at City Hall since 2010, to city manager in March.

The council is scheduled to appoint an interim city manager at its meeting tonight, Mayor Matt Hall said Monday. Fire Chief Kevin Crawford has been acting city manager since Coates was placed on leave Thursday night during a special council meeting closed to the public.

Hall said he couldn’t provide any details about why Coates was placed on leave. But he said the council would probably be able to disclose more information Tuesday night.

“We’ll be able to announce the terms of what’s transpiring,” Hall said, declining any further comment.

City spokeswoman Kristina Ray said no other Carlsbad employees had been placed on leave or had their job status change as a result of the personnel matter that prompted Coates’ leave.

Coates, 56, lives in Encinitas. He’s married with two grown children. His hobbies include mountain biking, hiking, camping, swimming and surfing, he told UT-San Diego earlier this year.

Coates moved to the San Diego area from Virginia in 2002 to take over Santee’s recreation division, and took the same job with Carlsbad in 2010.

He’s been in charge of Carlsbad’s 700 city employees since the council appointed him interim city manager one year ago, just after Lisa Hildabrand announced her retirement from the post.

When Coates was appointed city manager last winter, Hall praised him.

“John has the vision, style and experience we need to help Carlsbad continue on our path to becoming a truly world class organization,” Hall said. “His collaborative approach to leadership and commitment to working with the community make him a great fit for Carlsbad.”